Radio Silence vs TripMode (2026): which should you pick?

Pick Radio Silence if

• Fits if you want to stop specific Mac apps from phoning home
• Works for people who want a one-time purchase instead of a subscription

Look elsewhere if

• Skip it if you use Windows or Linux, as only macOS is covered
• Tight if you want to evaluate it properly: the trial lasts 24 hours
• Too light for you if you want rules by port or address, as only per-app blocking is described
• Watch out: it isn't sold on the Mac App Store, since the vendor says firewalls can't be

Pick TripMode if

• Fits if you tether a Mac to a phone and want background apps kept off
• Works for people who travel on a small data allowance

Look elsewhere if

• Not for you if you use Windows, as that version is marked end of life
• Skip it if you hold an old license key, since the vendor no longer sells them and the old ones do not work with the App Store version
• Tight if you stay on the free mode, since the listing does not say what it leaves out
• Watch out: the listing shows two prices for Monthly, Yearly and Lifetime without explaining the difference

Radio Silence

• macOS only: version 3.4 needs macOS 10.15 or newer, and older systems use legacy versions.
• Not sold through the Mac App Store; the vendor says firewalls cannot be, because of the system access they need.
• The trial lasts 24 hours, though the vendor adds a 30-day money-back guarantee on purchases.
• Blocking is per app; the vendor's pages describe no rules by port or address.

TripMode

• Mac only; the App Store listing states macOS 11.0 or later. TripMode for Windows and TripMode 2 are marked end of life.
• The vendor no longer sells license keys; purchases go through the Mac App Store, and an old license does not work with that version.
• The App Store listing shows two prices for each of Monthly, Yearly and Lifetime without explaining the difference.
• It is also included in Setapp, which the vendor lists at $9.99 a month for over 240 apps.

Radio Silence

Outbound app blocking

Build a list of apps that may not reach the internet. The FAQ says the built-in macOS firewall does not stop outbound traffic, while this one does.

Live network monitor

Shows every network connection made by apps and processes as it happens, so a misbehaving app can be found and blocked from the list.

Helpers and background processes

Finds helper apps, invisible background processes, daemons and XPC services that make connections, and blocks child processes of a blocked app.

Runs without the window open

The firewall starts with the Mac and stays active after the window is closed; the interface is only used to change the block list.

Local traffic still allowed

A blocked app cannot reach the network but can still talk to local processes on the same Mac.

TripMode

Block by default

Lists every app requesting internet access and blocks them by default; you choose which apps get through and see each one's data use.

Hotspot detection

Remembers networks it was activated on and turns on by itself when you connect to a mobile hotspot or tether an iPhone.

Live monitor and reports

Shows real-time traffic per app and reports usage for the last day, week or month, with the servers and domains each app contacted.

Data limits

Warns before a limit you set is reached, then blocks all transfers; limits can apply to specific networks such as a hotspot.

Profiles and scheduler

Profiles for work, calls, streaming or gaming, with a scheduler to switch TripMode on or off at set times.

Automation

Supports AppleScript and Shortcuts for automating when and how it runs.

Radio Silence

• Personal$9

  one-time, for a single user

  One license for one person; the FAQ says it can be installed on all of that person's Macs.

• Team$49

  one-time, for a whole team

  Covers an entire team with no seat limit. Not a subscription.

TripMode

• Free$0

  Feature-limited mode of the Mac App Store app.

• Monthly$4.99

  per month; the listing also shows $5.99 under this name

  Auto-renewing subscription with full access, including Family Sharing.

• Yearly$14.99

  per year; the listing also shows $17.99 under this name

  Auto-renewing subscription after the 7-day trial, with all updates included.

• Lifetime$39.99

  one-time; the listing also shows $49.99 under this name

  One-time in-app purchase with full access and unlimited updates, shared through Family Sharing.